I recently read a newsletter from Volunteer Canada. There was a great article on the benefits of volunteering and giving. The article dealt with the well-known fact that volunteering and giving (including money), have many benefits for the giver.
There are many well-documented studies that show putting others first without expectation of anything in return helps givers in many ways, including improving health. Health benefits include: reducing stress, the risk of cognitive impairment, and helping us live longer. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad I feel bad. That is my religion.”
A new benefit – pain reduction – has arrived on the scene. Scientists reported a study done in 2017 and recently published by the National Academy of Sciences, found volunteers living with pain reported decreased pain and a greater sense of purpose when, and after they volunteered.
The studies included acts such as giving blood after an earthquake, and cancer patients who were living with pain helping others. The study also determined cancer patients who helped also decrease their own pain. The meaning people gave to their good deeds was also a factor in how much the pain decreased.
I believe there is more good in the world than bad, and we need to recognize some of the good being done in the world – much of it through volunteering. Knowing the above might even increase your volunteering or encouraging others to volunteer.
A number of years ago while interviewing a person about joining a Board, we asked her how she felt about asking people for money. She smiled and said, “My father was a Minister and he loved to raise money. He believed asking people for money was a chance to get others to make a difference.” The person added, “I feel the same way.”
Maybe asking someone for money or to volunteer for a good cause is a favour to the recipient, the donor and you. After all, that action will make everyone feel better.
Chris Snyder is the author of the book "Creating Opportunities - A Volunteer's Memoir," published by Hilborn's Civil Sector Press. Chris is one of the early pioneers in the Canadian financial planning world. Chris understands that while much of life revolves around money; life is about much more than that. He has been a founder and/or board member of many charitable organizations including Project Mainstream in India, Street Kids International and Bakong Technical College in Cambodia, the Canadian Landmine Foundation, Toronto's Youth Employment Services, the Nature Conservancy of Canada(Ont) and Alpine Ontario. A long-time member of the Rotary Club of Toronto, he leads groups of Rotarians to the developing world to build schools and lead other valuable community projects. Most recently he has been working on First Nations initiatives and is the founding chair of HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples). In 2018, Chris was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in recognition of his many contributions to volunteering in various communities. He can be reached at snyder@eccgroup.ca
Volunteer Canada was established to provide national leadership and expertise on volunteer engagement to increase the participation, quality, and diversity of volunteer experiences. Since 1977 we have collaborated closely with volunteer centres, businesses, non-profit organizations, government and educational institutions to promote and broaden volunteering. Our programs, research, training, tools, resources and national initiatives provide leadership on issues and trends in Canada’s volunteer landscape.
